Express-car



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

P. BBRNARDIN. EXPRESS GAR.

No. 437,475.- Patented Sept. 30. 1890.

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P. BERNARDIN.

EXPRESS GAR.

No. 437,475. Patented $ept. 30, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANQOIS BERNARDIN, OF ANTWERP, OHIO.

EXPRESS-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,475, dated September 30, 1890.

Application filed May 12, 1890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANQOIS BERNARDIN, a citizen of the United States, residing atAntwerp, in the county of Paulding and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Express-Cars; andIdo hereby declare the following to be a'full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in express-cars, and has for its object to so construct the car that it will form a sure protection against train-robbers and highwaymen.

The invention consists in certain novel features, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of lnyimproved car with the roof removed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is aview of the spring-actuated door.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the body of the car, which is constructed with one end B closed, and its other end 0 provided with the ordinary sliding door D. A sliding door E is also arranged at this end of the car, and is held withdrawn by spring-bolts of the usual or any preferred construction. A strong spring F'is arranged between this door E and the end of the car and serves to project said door over the doorway when the spring-bolts are released. A rope or cable G extends from said door to a safe H in the car, so as to permit the door E to be opened from a distance.

At a short distance from the end of the car I provide a transverse railing I, having a central door J, and the safe H is placed at any desired point of the car between the closed end thereof and the said railing. A truck K is also placed in the car and the money-chest is placed on the said truck, so that it maybe moved into the safe in time of danger. The car is lined with metal and also has an outer covering of metal to withstand shot and bullets, and its floor is provided with a number of port-holes L, to permitthe messenger or other occupant of the-car to defend himself against persons who may be below the car.

In practice the messenger will close the sliding door E and will also look the door J.

Then, if the car be attacked and the train- Serial No. 351,443. (No model.)

hands on the outside forced to signal the messenger, he will enter the safe and draw on the cable, so as to open the door. The robbers upon entering the car will be blockaded by the transverse railing and the messenger will be able from the safe to overcome them without exposing himself to danger.

The advantages of my device are thought to be obvious from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and further reference thereto is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described myinvent-ion, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. 1s

1. The combination. with the car having a spring-door in one end,of the transverse railing arranged in the car near said end and provided with a door or gate, and the cable secured to the spring-door and extending inward therefrom through the railing, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the car, of the spring-door in the end thereof, the transverse railing near said end, the safe within the car, and the cable secured to the door and extending therefrom through the railing into the safe, as set forth.

3. The combination of a car closed at one end having a spring-door in its other end and formed with the bot-50m port-holes L, the transverse partition I, having the door J, and the cable secured to the spring-door and extending into the car through the partition I, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, in an express car, of the car closed at one end having the springdoor in its other end and formed with the bottom port-holes L, the transverse partition I, having the door J the cable secured to the spring-door and extending into the car through the partition I, the safe formed with the port-holes, and the truck K, supporting the money-chest and adapted to be run Within the safe when desired, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANQOIS BERNARDIN.

Witnesses:

L. S. GORDON, G. D. WYER. 

